7. Ragnar prepares himself for a showdown with Earl Haraldson

“I know what he’s doing. He’s preparing himself.” The line delivered by Ragna’s captured slave, Athelstan, sums it all up. After Earl Haraldson ordered an attack on a celebration party that killed one of Ragnar’s crew, Ragnar was ready to realize his dream of becoming Earl while also aching to exact revenge on his enemy. It was one of the multiple end-of-the-episode cliffhangers that “Vikings” made their hallmark throughout the first season.